China's Political Courts

By

Teng Biao and

Zhang Zuhua

Updated Nov. 3, 2006 12:01 a.m. ET

BEIJING -- In China, legal decisions in politically sensitive cases aren't subject to public accountability. The process, hidden behind closed doors, is steered by political -- not judicial -- authorities. This has been true for decades, and was proven true again this week in the appellate case of Chen Guangcheng, China's blind, "barefoot" lawyer.

On Monday, the Linyi City Intermediate People's Court in Shangdong province...